Need advice: Top floor or lower?

[scubadude]

My wife and I are moving into a 6 floor building and have a choice between a 4th floor interior ar a 6th floor end apartment. We have never lived in a high rise before and we are wondering what the trade offs would be. We understand that the heating and cooling will cost a bit more on the 6th floor but we don't have any idea how much more it would be. Also we are wondering if there would be a greater noise factor (rain) on the top floor.

The building seems to be made from pourde concrete. Is this a factor?

I'm sure there are other things that we have missed. Anybody have any advice or stories to share on this topic?


Thanks,

Scuba

[bridgit]

1. 6th floor end apartment

my opinion

[Tesibria]

2. Top Floor Top Floor

I'm not sure what location you're in .. but top floor is better.

Rain is *nothing* compared to pitter patter (or worse) of feet, sounds of dropped boxes, or other noises from people above you. In all likelihood, you'll hear nothing on top floor (except when the people directly below you are having a party.)

Not sure how old the building is but my experience is that the higher up, the less heat needed -- heat from lower units rise. When in 5 story building (with gas heat), we had windows cracked in the winter to let heat OUT (Chicago). On 58th floor now, have heat turned completely off (and it stays above 70 at all times).

.. that's my 2-cents anyway ...

[scubadude]

6. Thanks,

We're in the Chicago area too, but out in the burbs.

Scuba

[liontamer]

3. rain on the roof is better than bouncing kids on the 5th floor

end apt also sounds like it would have more light. So while heating costs may be a bit higher, the 6th floor apt sounds better. Have you seen both of them yet?

[scubadude]

7. We haven't seen the end one yet.

They are both basically the same with the end one 30 square feet bigger, with a kitchen window.

Scuba

[DS1]

4. If someone else is moving your stuff, or there's an elavator, top floor

There's nobody above you keeping you up all night, you get free heat in the winter, cooling in summer can be harder but if you have enough windows you can get a hell of a draft going.

And occassionally you can give yourself a little workout and take the stairs.

[baldguy]

5. The fewer direct neighbors you have, the better.

[democracyindanger]

8. Top, end = fewer neighbors

If the building is well insulated I don't think your heating/cooling bill will differ much.

[donco6]

9. No question - top floor

From someone with apartment experience. Living under "woman who walks like an elephant" I know.

[scubadude]

10. Top floor it is then!

Thank you for all your help.

Scuba

[Zuni]

11. I prefer the 4th

I like to be a couple of floors up, but not at the top

[scubadude]

12. Any reasons with that?

I'm weighing the pros and cons here, or are you just razzing?

Scuba

[Zuni]

13. I would just for more comfortable

being on the top floor would be OK, but I would much rather be in the middle. I am kind of weird like that.

[scubadude]

15. Cool enough for me.

Actually the dude I talked to at the building said something of the sort. He said he wanted to be insulated from everything....

Scuba

[donheld]

14. I'd pick the top floor everytime

can't be too high for me.

[scubadude]

16. Closer to the sky....

Now that is a cool name for a tune eh?

At any rate thanks once again all,

I get up, I get down..... Close to the edge........

Scuba

[Bullwinkle925]

17. Don't move any higher than the firetruck ladder can reach would be

the only advice I'd give you. Seriously!